01-12-2020 The Asian Independent

22 01-12-2020 to 15-12-2020 NEWS
www.theasianindependent.co.uk
FARMERS have right to peaceful
protest to get their grievances heard
The police brutality on the farmers
protesting against the farm bill passed by the
Parliament need to be unconditionally condemned.
The farmers are agitating againsnt
these bills since they were passed without
proper discussion in Parliament. The fear is
that the bills will pave the way for corporatisation
of agriculture and will leave the
farmers atg the mercy of corporate houses
unless the government ensure that there is a
Minimum Support Price. While the issues
related to farm bills and the concern of the
farmers were not discussed, the protest
against the same was growing in various
parts of the country particularly Punjab and
Haryana. The farmers protest from Punjab
was stopped brutally at Haryana border and
then at the Delhi border.
There are few questions related to the
way the government of India as well as state
governments particularly those of BJP are
handiling this. If the farmers have grievances
then it needs to be formally discussed
in all seriousness and efforts should not be
made to use them as a publicity tool to
divide the farmer organisations. It is well
known fact that farmers organisations too
are well politicised and every party has its
own farmers wing but the fact is there is a
great unrest and anxiety among the farmers
against the government’s apathy.
It is Constitution day today. The government
has been promoting ideas of constitutionalism
while people read preamble but
the issue is what was wrong if the farmers
want peaceful democratic protest. Why does
the government panic when the farmers
want to come to Delhi and protest at the
Jantar mantar. Is it bad press for the
government or anything else? As far
as bad press is concerned, the way the
entire protest was mishandled will
not give the government good media coverage
as police brutality on farmers will
become news even when the propaganda
media will bring new conspiracy theories
and discuss issues which are not of relevance
for the people. Many of the bhakts are
still feeling that the media should still focus
on Sushant Singh Rajput.
In Democracy political protests are part
and parcel of it. When the government criminalises
these protests then they become out
of control. Where should people go to lodge
their complaints and protests if all avenues
are closed. They know well that the power
to change or return the act is only with the
central government but then the government
seems not interested in speaking to them.
The power people must understand that
corporatisation of farming is not an alternative
to resolve India’s food crisis and poverty
alleviation programme. Corporatisation
will bring disaster to communities and will
not make us food sufficient. Important is
that the government democratise our agricultural
sector and take initiative to distribute
land to landless people and encourage
family farming. Family farming will be the
backbone to not only an antipoverty
programme but also
strengthen India’s resolve to
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
social and human rights activist
democratise the highly iniquitous
social order and make us food sufficient.
Unfortunately, farmers issues in India
remained related to Minimum support Price
and nothing beyond. Farmers union too are
not bothered too much about agricultural
workers and marginalised farmers. Powerful
farmers are united on the issue but during
election times become prisoners of their
caste politics and do not entertain the issues
of landless Dalits and other marginalised
communities. The result is that most of these
protests are confined to powerful farming
communities where the Sangh Parivar has
made their inroads much stronger.
We condemn the police brutalities
against the peaceful protest and ask the government
to negotiate with farmers and do
not look at corporatisation as panacea to all
the ills of our agricultural sector. Protests
and negotiations are part of democracy and
must be encouraged. We will ask farming
organisations to look into the issues of the
agricultural workers too and all the government
must promote family farming which is
only possible through land redistribution
initiatives which will also democratise
our rural society. Land reforms can
bring social equity and strengthen
social democracy which is important
and essential for our political democracy
to succeed as Baba Saheb
Ambedkar had said while presenting
the Constitution to the Constitution
Assembly on November 26th, 1949.
Let us rededicate ourselves to democratise
our social system and key to that is land
reform and that alone will be the most befitting
tribute to Baba Saheb Ambedkar. The
question is whether the government has the
will to do so ?
Vidya Bhushan Rawat is a social and
human rights activist. He blogs at
www.manukhsi.blogspot.com twitter
@freetohumanity
Email: vbrawat@gmail.com
Rashami Desai sizzles in hot pink
bikini photoshoot
Mumbai : Television actress Rashami
Desai on Sunday set Instagram on fire with
her hot pink bikini photoshoot!
The actress shared photographs of herself
where she can be seen standing in a
swimming pool wearing a hot pink bikini
underneath a white net dress. The photoshoot
has been done in Lonavala.
Captioning the photographs, Rashami
wrote that she wants to "go with the flow".
Commenting on her post, Rashami’s fans
showered her with love and admiration.
On the work front, Rashami is all set to
enter the digital world, and says her
upcoming web project will help her break
away from the regular television image.
The actress plays the lead opposite Tanuj
Virwani in the web series "Tandoor", an
investigative thriller about a
married couple whose lives
take an unexpected turn after a
murder.
On Sunday, Rashami took to
Instagram to share birthday
wishes for her "Tandoor" costar
Tanuj Virwani.
Sharing a photograph with
Tanuj, the actress wrote: "I live
for the moments where I can’t
express them with words, A
very Happy Birthday to my
super talented co-actor, a person
so humble and down to
earth and surely super fun to be
around @tanujvirwani Enjoy
today without any guilt."
RELEVANCE of
Benevolence in Present
Times of Covid Crisis
The present times of covid crisis calls for benevolence and kindness
as the qualities of goodness in all of us as human beings. The
excellent deed to be done is benevolence which is an essential element
of goodwill and credibility. We can become capable of doing
kindness by spending some money on others. The desire to give
thoughts falls in the domain of noble deeds. The desire to get free
goods and services come in the category of sin, crime and begging as
bad. Doing benevolence is not in hands of all. This is an outcome of
deeds in past life. Such people take birth to perform actions of kindness.
We can become role model for others by performing good deeds
of benevolence and kindness. We have to learn from Maharaja
Agrasen who had the honest goal of providing relief to one and all.
The marvellous tradition of giving one coin and brick to any new
comer in his kingdom Agroha (Haryana) for starting new business to
earn a living is worth replicating in present times of unemployment
and under employment. Maharaja Agrasen was a strong protagonist
of spending 25 percent of the incomes on the welfare of living beings
in the society. He also made a case for 25 percent savings for future
which is necessary and sufficient condition for coping up the crisis of
covid kind in present times. The business community of today must
learn benevolence as corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a necessary
and sufficient condition for inclusive growth which means to
care for the cared less and use of the used less human resources.
Benevolence indicates a charitable disposition to do good with
compassionate and kind considerations of other s needs and desires
and is incorporated as an indispensable ethical virtue in most human
societies, religions, philosophies and cultures. Desire to do well to
others is filled with benevolence .We bequeathed much benevolence
from our vast fortune.
Dharma, Arth, Kama and moksha are necessary in human life. We
can get moksha before death by performing good deeds to be called
Jiwan Mukti.
Being a needonomist devotee of Gita spiritually romantic, I
believe in simple living and no thinking which means we have not to
think of those things which are beyond control. Simple living with
kindness can get salvation for all of us. We should use our energies
for creating something unique instead of worrying about things
beyond control.
One is free to choose between benevolence and doing harm to others.
The path of heaven and hell are open to all. People mostly choose
good path with wisdom of spirituality. One can be really satisfied and
can remain happy by doing the actions of benevolence. We are fortunate
to be blessed with human life for performing acts of kindness.
One is also respected if remain kind and benevolent to others.
In Ramayana benevolence is Dharma and giving pain to others is
a sin. To be awakened and aware of the pain and remain ready for the
help is an indicator of godly person.
Many scientific studies on benevolence have been closely monitoring
and linking the brain benefits and emotional improvement in
those participating in generous acts. These behaviours enhance entire
communities, occupied by thoughtfully connected citizens.
The existing theory on giving reveals that it is good for those less
fortunate. It increases the health and happiness of the recipient.
It is believed by some if not many people that they do not have the
economic status or time to give. They don t know that giving is good
for them too. They view it as a loss instead of an overall enhancement
and gain in the real sense. There is a proven physiological response
when people give. The reward and pleasure centres in the brain light
up in the same way that they would upon receiving a gift. Oxytocin
floods the body lowering stress and contributing to an overall sense
of wellbeing. In order for people to reap the rewards of giving, their
acts must be consistent. A type of generosity practice sustained over
time through bodily behaviours and repeat acts can have exponential
positive benefits.
Investing in overall happiness through meaningful work, relationships
and benevolent acts all contribute to a happier healthier society.
It is the academic duty of the intellectuals to increase public
awareness about the direct benefits of giving as an increase in happiness
and sense of wellbeing. The giving movement with kindness
continues to gain momentum for overall healthier happier environment.
The joy of freedom cannot be found in the art of living for the
livelihood but with the art of giving by adopting life style of altruism
(not me but you) with limited use of resources for the self which falls
in the domain of needonomics promoted by this writer in humble
ways. Let us reframe the fight against covid crated crisis as a benevolent
deed for the survival and existence of people.
Professor M.M. Goel
Former Vice Chancellor and
Needonomist Professor living in
Kurukshetra. Enjoy surfing the website
www.needonomics.com